Recommended Reservation Available
Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake: Sendai Arahama Elementary School Building Tour
During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, 320 children, school staff, and local residents evacuated to Arahama Elementary School. The school building is open to the public as ruins to serve as a memorial and pass on the lessons learned from the disaster.
Operation Period
All year round.
Time Required
About 60 minutes (Please tell us your desired time)
Number of Participants
1〜100people
Price
Anyone may freely visit the memorial without a reservation to view the inside and outside of the ruins on their own.
* Regarding this program, the facility staff will guide you around the school (reservation required).
During the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, a tsunami reached the 2nd floor of the school. The school building is open to the public as ruins to serve as a memorial and pass on the lessons learned from the disaster.
Tour Contents:
[Overview of the Building]
・Exterior of School / 1st Floor / 2nd Floor
Learn about the powerful and dangerous tsunami that hit Arahama Elementary School. View photos of the damage to the school building and the situation immediately after the disaster.
・4th Floor
Understand the timeline of March 11th, 2011. Through photos and videos you can follow the events of the earthquake and evacuation, to the tsunami and rescue at Arahama Elementary School. Also, you can learn about how to prepare for a disaster. The exhibition introduces the history and culture of the Arahama area and memories of Arahama Elementary School.
* There is a 17-minute video shown in the exhibition room titled "3.11 Memories of Arahama."
・Rooftop
You can compare the scenery before and after the disaster using past pictures while looking over the entire Arahama area from above. You can also see how Teizan Canal runs parallel to the sea, as well as the progress of reconstruction.
If you have time, we recommend walking to the coast to see the current situation of Arahama.
| Experience Program Name | Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake: Sendai Arahama Elementary School Building Tour |
|---|---|
| Activity Location | Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake: Sendai Arahama Elementary School |
| Time Required | About 60 minutes (Please tell us your desired time) |
| Operation Period | All year round. |
| Start Time | Available during open hours (9:30-16:00) |
| Minimum number of participants | 1people |
|---|---|
| Maximum number of participants | 100people |
| Reservation Deadline | 1 days before by 16:00 |
| Important notes regarding participation | ※Inside the exhibition area there are pictures and videos of the situation immediately after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. ※If making a reservation for over 100 people, please consult with us in advance. |
| Price |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| What is included in the price | Guided tour of facilities. | ||
| Method of Payment | This is a free experience. | ||
| Cancellation Policy | There is no cancellation fee. |
| Meeting Spot | 32-1 Shinborihata, Arahama, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai-shi 984-0033 |
|---|---|
| Meeting Time | Please come by the time of your reservation. |
| Access | --By Public Transportation-- From Arai subway station on the Tozai Line, board a bus heading towards Ruins of the Great East Japan Earthquake: Sendai Arahama Elementary School, depart at the last stop in front of the school. Total time: 15 minutes. --By Car-- 10-minute drive from "Sendai-Higashi IC" on the Sendai-Tobu Road. |
| Parking | Yes |
| Barrier-free Access | Yes 1 wheelchair available to borrow, ramps, elevator. |
|---|---|
| About Guides and Tours | A Sendai City staff member will lead the experience. |
| About multi-lingual support | Japanese／Other There is a Portuguese-speaking staff. A PockeTalk interpretation device is also available. Multi-lingual pamphlets available (English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Thai). |
This is the first school facility in Japan that was opened to the public year-round as ruins, a memorial of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Understand lessons from the disaster and watch a video of survivors telling their personal experiences.